Copacabana Beach
With almost too many beautiful beaches and thriving forests to count, it’s no surprise that Rio de Janeiro is one of South America’s most visited cities. Every February tourists flock to the seaside metropolis, lured by the legendary festival of Carnaval. It’s important to remember, though, that there’s a lot more than the sun, surf and tan most guidebooks stay fixated on. (But we aren’t judging if that’s all you’re looking for.)
Splitting his time between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, creative entrepreneur Paulo del Valle has become a master at finding the city’s hidden gems. Behind the wheel of Volkswagen’s comfortable and compact Golf, he played chauffeur for the day and revealed a few of Rio’s best kept secrets.
Read below for Paulo’s tips on the best beach for tourist-free sunbathing as well as our picks for a cultural retreat or two.
Dona Marta Viewpoint
Enseada de Botafogo
Paulo’s Picks:
1. Copacabana Beach – our guess is that it will be impossible not to sing this song as you slather on sunscreen at the world-famous beach retreat
2. Dona Marta Viewpoint – top notch views of Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer mean picture perfect shots that are sure to invoke envy from Instagram followers back home
3. Botafogo Bay – the area closes its two main roads every Sunday, allowing for some stunningly scenic bike rides and afternoon strolls
4. Grumari Beach – one of Rio’s more secluded shorelines, the majority of tourists still haven’t caught on to this tranquil seaside area
5. Ipanema Beach –home to numerous art galleries and lunchtime locales, ready and waiting if you choose to leave the water
SLEEK’s Picks:
1. Niterói Museum of Contemporary Art – this structurally impressive museum houses works from globally recognised Brazilian artists as well as their international counterparts
2. Museu de Arte do Rio – erected in 2013 as part of an effort to ramp up cultural activities before the World Cup, iconic architecture and innovative design make this building a symbol of development for the city
3. Luciana Caravello Gallery of Contemporary Art – focusing on emerging local artists, this gallery displays work you won’t find so easily anywhere else
Grumari Beach
Ipanema Beach
More of Paulo del Valle’s photography can be seen on his Instagram @paulodelvalle
All images by Paulo del Valle